University debate team grapples over civility

School of Arts and Sciences seniors Kyle Bomeisl, left, Kevin
Parks, center, and School of Arts and Sciences sophomore Chris
Bergman argue over the existence of civility on campus.

The Rutgers University Debate Union engaged in an evening of
parliamentary debate Tuesday at the Rutgers Student Center on the
College Avenue campus to give students an inside look at how a
civil debate works.

Members of the RUDU took opposing sides and contested whether
the University lacks civility.

One side argued that the college-aged generation is too
self-involved and hedonistic to be civil.

Debater David Reiss, a School of Arts and Sciences senior, said
this generation is accustomed to instant gratification and left to
depend less on others than generations before.

The opposing side debated that civility is in a college
student's best interest.

The rule of reciprocity can influence a person's civility in
reference to the golden rule — treat others as you wish to be
treated, said Kyle Bomeisl, a School of Arts and Sciences
senior.

They also argued that the existence of Project Civility on
campus could mean that college students are actually civil.

The debate was one of many events held at the University as part
of Project Civility, a two-year, University-wide program on
campus.

Agnes Buda, a School of Arts and Sciences senior, enjoyed the
debate, as well as the campaign as a whole.

"I think this is a wonderful idea. It's very interesting, and
also very necessary for the students and our society in general at
this time," Buda said. "It was great. [The debaters] spoke really
well."

Mark Schuster, one of the co-directors of Project Civility,
attended the debate exhibition, and said the campaign was going
according to plan.

"Overall, I think it's going as well as we hoped and planned.
We're excited about it," said Schuster, senior dean of
students.

Some found the debate itself is a representation of civility,
citing its refined and respectful manner.

"We, as debate club members, always try to put pride into what
we do, in terms of trying to make our arguments respectable," said
Stephen Yellin, an RUDU member. "Even if they're completely
contradictory sometimes to what we believe in."

Other students agree with Yellin and find a civil debate can
come in handy when discussing opposing issues.

"A civil debate is the best. The argument does not get too
heated and devolve into chaos," said Eric Solomon, a School of Arts
and Sciences junior.

Aside from the debate that occurred on stage, students
themselves have their own opinions on the presence of civility on
the University's campus.

"I think there is [civility on campus]," Solomon said. "Rudeness
and animosity may seem more prominent because they are more
visible, but there definitely is an underlying theme of civility on
campus, regardless."

In light of the recent death of University first-year student
Tyler Clementi, Yellin said he was impressed the community came
together.

"In terms of proportions, I had not seen something like this at
any University, until what happened here at Rutgers," Yellin said.
"Thousands of people came together because of the ideal that was
violated."

Ilana Bloom, a School of Arts and Sciences junior, said the
cohesiveness of the campus shown at the protest by the Westborough
Baptist Church last year demonstrated the University's
civility.

"When [the protestors] came, it was so beautiful how students
from all walks of life came to support each other," Bloom said. "In
general, I think there is a certain respect between students."